1. The Seed Sown Among Thorns Mark 4:18-19

2. The Parable of the Sower Farmer = God, or people sharing the Gospel Farmer = God, or people sharing the Gospel Seed = the word of God Seed = the word of God Sowing of the seed = preaching God’s word Sowing of the seed = preaching God’s word Four effects of hearing the Gospel Four effects of hearing the Gospel The seed along the path The seed along the path The seed on the rocks The seed on the rocks The seed among thorns The seed among thorns The seed on good soil The seed on good soil

3. The Seed Sown Among Thorns Mark 4:18-19 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

4. How To Recognize If You Are Desiring Other Things “Other things” refers to things other than God “Other things” refers to things other than God These things often try to come into your head throughout the day These things often try to come into your head throughout the day They may seem to bring happiness or fulfillment They may seem to bring happiness or fulfillment They compete for your “sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3) They compete for your “sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3) They do not promote godliness They do not promote godliness

5. The Fate of The Seed Sown Among Thorns The seed sown among thorns becomes “unfruitful.” We can compare this to the teaching of John the Baptist: The seed sown among thorns becomes “unfruitful.” We can compare this to the teaching of John the Baptist: Mat. 3:10 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

6. The Seed Sown On Good Soil Luke 8:15 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

7. Let God’s Word Dwell In You Col. 3:16 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

8. Cutting Off Any Thorns Heb. 12:1-2 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 

9. Cutting Off Any Thorns … 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.